I healed myself as my fae magic arose. Aurora Shadowbreaker was back.
I called forth my powers, unbridled and powerful, searched for Tristan, and created a portal leading straight into his room.
Cade jumped when I stepped out of the portal but smiled when he saw me. Tristan was still lying on the bed, his eyes closed. I could see the black poison in his veins streaking across his neck. I ran over to the bed and kneeled beside him.
“Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” I demanded, looking at Cade.
The big red-haired warrior shook his head. “I don’t know. I think he was bitten twice; there is too much poison in his blood. He’s trying to fight it, but even with the antidote the poison is not leaving his body.”
“Heal Prince Tristan, Aurora,” said Abraxas. “We need him, and time is running out.”
“But Penelope said it may make it worse,” I asserted in my mind.
“If you are going to argue with me every time I tell you to do something, it is going to get very tedious to teach you anything, Aurora,” said Abraxas. “The magic you possess is different from all others. Now do it.”
I put one hand on Tristan’s forehead, the other over his heart.
“What are you doing?” Cade whispered, but he didn’t stop me.
I ignored him and plunged my magic into Tristan. Calmly, I searched for the poison. I could see it, tiny specks of darkness moving through his blood. I pulled more magic from the well inside me and pushed it into him. It roared through Tristan’s body in a wave of white light, swallowing up the darkness within. The werewraith poison shrieked in fury and fled in the radiance of the Dawnstar.
Tristan opened his eyes and smiled when he saw me.
I told him everything that had happened as quickly as I could. Cade listened with his mouth open, and Tristan pushed himself up as soon as he heard about the threat to Izadora and his grandmother.
“You’re the Dawnstar?” Cade looked at me, wide-eyed.
I nodded and then explained what we had to do.
In a few minutes Tristan and Cade were ready. The door opened, and Aiden stood before us, blocking the way, his sword in hand.
“What are you doing here?” the prince and heir of the Day Court growled, looking at me. “You are supposed to be confined to your room.”
Tristan’s eyes narrowed, and he moved to stand beside me. “Hear her out, Aiden.”
“I don’t want to hear the lies that come out of that half-breed’s mouth,” spat the blond warrior.
Tristan put his hand on his sword. “Stand down, Aiden,” said the dark prince. “I don’t want to hurt you. Izadora and my grandmother are in trouble. We need to go, but we could use your help.”
Aiden’s eyes shifted to me and back to Tristan. “Tell me.”
Tristan gave Aiden a brief explanation of what Andromeda was planning. I had prepared myself to use my magic if needed to get Aiden out of the way, or anyone else for that matter.
Aiden shook his head. “Why am I not surprised?” He lowered his sword. “I was afraid it might come to this. My mother is power hungry, and if she means to kill the queen, she’s probably already dead.”
Aiden’s reaction was not what I expected at all. I think the news coming from Tristan made it easier to accept. I knew his relationship with his mother was strained, but I never realized just how much. If Aiden helped us, we would have a much better chance of getting my grandmother back.
I stepped forward. “It’s not too late. You have to get there before the werewraiths do.”
Aiden turned his gaze on me and pointed with his sword. “If you are lying about this, half-breed, I will have your head.”
I didn’t have time to argue with Aiden. “Go, you will see for yourself,” I snapped.
Tristan turned to me. “What about you?”
“I can take care of myself.” I tried to smile. “Stick to the plan—you know what you have to do.”
He gave me a quick hug, which was a surprise. “Be careful,” he whispered.
“I will. Just be there on time.”
“You can count on it,” Tristan growled, then turned to the other Elite warriors. “Let’s go!”
Abraxas spoke. “Good. Now create a portal to Penelope. We will need her help if this plan is to succeed.”
I created a portal straight into the dungeons. Now that I had discovered deeper parts of my magic, with the guidance of the great dragon, I could manipulate it as I pleased. The dowager had said I could not create a portal to a place I had never been before. But with ancient magic, which only I possessed, it was possible to create a portal to a person. And that’s exactly what I did.
Penelope didn’t look surprised when she saw me. “I knew you would come.”
I hugged her and told her everything that had happened as concisely as I could.
“I will need you to remain here and stop Skye from bringing Andromeda’s army into the city through the portal in the catacombs,” I told her hurriedly, glancing toward the cell door. “Once the wards fall, you will be able to create a portal out of the dungeons at the same time Skye will be opening one in the tunnels.”
She nodded and put her hand on my shoulder. “Go, stop Andromeda. I will do everything I can to protect the city.”
I hugged her and created a portal to my room. I grabbed my weapons; if I was going into battle, I wanted my sword, Dawn, with me. I strapped my daggers into place and secured my sword at my waist. I didn’t portal straight to Andromeda and the Elders because I was not sure what would be waiting when I got there. They had left the city a while ago and may have already reached the meeting place. With Lucian and the Drakaar so close, I needed to scope out the area first.
